Bentley will continue to offer the diesel-powered Bentayga SUV despite the imminent arrival of a more fuel efficient plug-in hybrid model.

The British luxury brand broke with tradition last year and introduced its first oil-burner in the Bentayga SUV.

Speaking to Drive at the launch of the new petrol V8 variant in Austria this week, the line director for the Bentayga, Peter Guest, confirmed it would stick around for the “foreseeable future” despite the recent backlash against diesel following Volkswagen’s emission cheating scandal and amid potential tightening on regulations permitting diesel vehicles in major European cities.

“We are constantly watching it,” Guest said.

“And we will react to market demands as they change. At the moment we will continue to support it as long as the demand is there.”

Guest conceded the Bentayga Diesel was primarily developed for Europe and, as such, has only made up a small portion - around 14 per cent - of the 10,500-odd Bentaygas produced since it was launched two years ago.

While it has yet to be made official, Drive understands Bentley will reveal a plug-in hybrid version of its uber-SUV at next month’s Geneva Motor Show.

It is expected to use the same petrol-electric powertrain as the Porsche Panamera e-Hybrid, which teams a 3.0-litre twin turbo V6 with an electric motor and will give the Bentayga the ability to drive approximately 30km on battery power alone and achieve a claimed average fuel consumption of around 4L/100km.

Final details of Bentley’s first foray into electrification are expected to be revealed next week ahead of its public debut in early March.